Frame structure for webbed material



March 22, 1949. T v KAUTZ 2,464,814

FRAME STRUCTURES FOB WEBBED MATERIAL Filed Aug 15, 1944 Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRAME STRUCTURE FOR,- WEBB'ED' MATERIAL Frederick Kautz, Glenolden', Pa.

Application August 15, 1944,.SerialNo. 451,559

11 Claims.

This application is a continuatiominpart, of.

rieties of framed mesh or sheet panels, moisture and foreign matter easily collect upon the fiat horizontal portions of their frame elements which are usually provided by angle or channel stock including flanges and webs generally set at right angle to the mesh or. sheet bodies with transverse portion horizontally extended therefrom. structures embodying channel stock, the hollow side'of the channel bar in an upper frame element is turned upwardly and this recessed portion forms anelongated: receptacle wherein foreign:

matter abundantly collects and which has been sought to correct by closing said hollow side with an additional fiat strip. It is believed that said' disadvantages are caused, in general, by therigid and unvarying disposition of the frame elements and portions thereof relative'to the web and position of the structure wherein they are incorporated and, in particular, by salient exposure of extreme edge portions of said elements. In

exposed vertical frame-elements, such salient ex'-' posure of edges also impairs the appearance of the structure.

It is therefore one of the main-objects of the invention to provide framed web structures embodying novel frame elements. having portions arranged in varying relation to theweb andthe position of said structures in order to reduce.

stated disadvantages.

It is particularly an object of the invention to provide a disposition of the portions inthe frame elements which prevents the collection of moisture or foreign matter thereupon if exposedto weather conditions or setup-inside of buildings.

respectively.

It is another object of the invention to provide an effective preventive against corrosion in. exposed structures by said arrangement of. the

portions in the frame. elements.

A-further objector the invention is to provide adisposition Of the-portions-in the frame ele- 2; ments which-avoids salient'exposures of extreme edges for better appearance.

It is still another object of the invention to provide frame elements of welded construction, enabling a more unrestricted arrangement of their portions for stated purpose.

More objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying frame drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a screen partition panel, partly in section, constructed in accordance' with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical crossse'ction taken at line A-A in Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4. arefragmentary perspective views of modifications of Figure 1.

Figure'fiis a perspectiveview' of a screen partition panel partly in section, depicting another form of the invention.

Figure Sis a. fragmentary perspective view of" a sheet metal partition panel constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure '7. is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of'Figure'fi.

Theinvention utilizes the novel frame elements for mesh webs presented in my pending patent application, Serial #374,568; filed January 15, 1941', now Patent.2,412;618, issued December 17, 1946, which intheir various forms are essentially concavo-convex elements. framed webbed material include horizontal or inclined frame elements of aforementioned type having their flange portions downwardly directed relative to position of the structures as a pre'- ventive against collectionof moisture and foreign In another form'of' the invention, said'frame' elemen'ts'are embodiedmatter for stated purpose.

in upright terminal edgings' of' such structures, presenting their concaveside towards the-webbed material.

the. structure and, therefore; not saliently" ex'' posed;

For a more complete understanding of the inventiomreference is now made to'the acc'om' I panyingv drawings. In Figure 1 there is: shown a webbedi structure consisting of a mesh web it supported by. a marginalframe l i, The structure may represent. a section in an extended screen partitionor fencing, et'c., composed of abutted and united sections of; like construction progres 'sivelyextendedfrom each other,.or, such strucin cross. section with edges of mesh webs" retained in vertex portion'of said In. present invention, structures of" Inthis' manner; the extreme edges'of said' elements are" inwardly directed relative to 3 ture may be used as single units for window guards, various other guards and enclosures, bin constructions, etc. The mesh web I may be preferably supplied by a wire screen, expanded metal or other commercial types of meshed material. The frame elements or members in frame II are provided by two spaced upright edgings I2 connected by two spaced horizontal members which are represented by a lower edging I3 and an upper edging I4. elevated, in present instance, above level of floor I5 in a building structure and the ends of the lower extensions I6 of the upright edgings I2, which serve as leg supports for the webbed structure, rest on said floor. cave-convex form of said frame elements in Figure 1 is presented in an execution in which respective flange portions are provided by two flat strip bars having their elongated edge portions disposed at an angle to each other. The upright edgings I2 and the lower edging I3 are each composed of the strip bars II with transverse portion thereof set approximately at right angle to each other and the projecting ends of the mesh II! are engaged between the opposed elongated edges of said bars at the vertex portion of the angle thus formed. The upright edgings and the connecting lower edging further have their convex side presented towards the body of mesh I0 and said mesh ends are exposed at the concave side of these members where weld material I8 can be conveniently deposited to unite said ends with contacting edges of bars I'I. Thus, said frame elements incorporate an angular body including all the advantages as ml? to strength and rigidity derived from such shape. The upper frame element I4, which is substantially of same construction as the elements previously mentioned, has the concave side presented towards the body of mesh Ill and the projecting ends thereof, engaged between the angular disposed strip bars II, are exposed at the angle vertex on the convex side of the element. At said location, the angular disposition of the squared edges of strips I'I forms a recess longitudinal of the element I4 wherein the welding material I8 can also be conveniently deposited to unite said mesh ends and strips as shown. In Figure 1, one end of the lower frame element I3 is shown to be abutted to the respective upright element I2 to illustrate the manner in which the frame elements are united to form II. For such purpose, said end is beveled on a cross sectional line to contact a flange portion of element I2, angular disposed thereto, and welding material is employed to secure said abutted portions to each other. The other respective end portions of frame elements in Figure 1 are shown in section, unabutted to each other, for a better representation of their construction. It is further shown in Figure 1 that the body of mesh I 0 lies in a plane equally bisecting the angle of the frame elements resulting in a diagonal disposition of the flanged strips I1 and II to said mesh. This, and the alternate relation of the respective faces of the horizontal elements I3 and I4 to mesh I 0 provide a downward inclination of the flanges in strips I1 and I1, and it will be obvious that adherence of moisture or foreign matter thereto is reduced by such means. The elongated apertures I9 which remain at vertex of frame elements I2, I3, I4 between the projections of mesh II) are useful as such an excellent ventilation is provided at underside of the horizontal frame elements in The lower edging I3 is i The cross sectional confill exposed structures preventing there collection of moisture which, as has been observed, is usually the cause of corrosion in closed members of conventional type. In structures inside of buildings as Fig. 1, the apertures I9 will have no detrimental effect if the horizontal elements, such as I3 and I l, are elevated above level of floor as foreign matter will easily drop through said apertures and collect on the floor below where it may be conveniently removed. In horizontal frame elements resting directly on a floor, other respective means have been designed which will be described hereafter in due order.

The construction of the lower and upper frame elements I3 and I4 is presented in Figure 2 in detail which clearly shows the angular disposition of the strips II and I1 and the position of the welding material I8 and I 8 in relation to mesh II), as previously described.

The employment of strip bars in conjunction with welding in said frame elements permits an unrestricted variation in disposition of the portions of said bars relative to a web body like mesh Ill or to entire structure wherein such are employed. For instance, the angular degree of flanges in strips I! and I1 relative to each other or to mesh It may be altered according to desire or need. In Figure 3 a respective modification of Figure l is shown embodying a horizontal lower and upper frame element 2I and 22 in which the flanges of strips 23 and 23' lie in a plane parallel to mesh IE) and the flanges of the complemental strips 24 and 24' at an angle to said mesh, resulting in a flush faced structure at one side thereof. The construction and advantages of frame elements 2| and 22 are otherwise the same as such in Figure l and they are likewise united by welding material 25 and 25' at respective vertex portions.

In partition structures consisting of framed meshed material in which the lower horizontal frame element is resting directly on a floor of a building structure, the construction shown in Figure 4 may be preferably used. The lower horizontal frame elements 26 in said figure. which corresponds to element I3 in Figure 1, is integrally shaped from a piece of sheet strip bent on a longitudinal medial line so as to dispose transverse section of the elongated flanges 21 at an angle to each other. The angle thus formed is in shown instance which, however, may be subject to variation, as previously indicated. The projecting ends of mesh II] are received within spaced apertures 28 at vertex portion of element 26 and secured thereto by welding material as indicated at 29. The apertures 28 are further flanked by pairs of outwardly projected tongues 30 formed in the punching operation of the apertures 28 by the junction material of the strip. In the integral element 26, the elongated apertures I9 at vertex portion, such as seen in element I3 of Figure 1, are avoided and foreign matter cannot penetrate, therefore, therethrough to floor I5, as will be appreciated. The substantially weaker element 26 formed of a sheet strip, as compared to frame elements previously described, provides adequate strength when anchored to the fioor upon which it is resting. In employing the tongues 3!), suitable space is provided for infiltration of the Welding material 29 and the additional material formed by said tongues is also useful for absorbing the welding heat which is an essential asset in the thinner material of element 26. If preferred, the ends of mesh I0 may be united with element 26 by substituting the weldingmaterial 29.with1electric' resistance weldingappliedupon said tongues and mesh engaged therebetween. As further shown in Figure 4; the lower frame element 26 and the upper frame element I l, of same construction as'such in Figure 1, have their flanges diagonally disposed tomesh ill and downwardly inclined, for the'purpose as previously described.

In the modified framed mesh structure of Figure 5, the mesh web. Ell. issupported within a marginalframe 3| including two spaced upright frame elements 32 concavo-convex in cross sec.- tion with. concave side presented towards the body, of mesh l in the.same manner as the upper element. M in Figure 1.v The upright elements 32 furtherinclude the same characteristics as referredelement L4 with flangesof strip bars equally angular disposedto each other and ends of; mesh. IB engaged between respective edges of said bars'and secured thereto by welding material 34 deposited at apex of said elements. The remaining lower and upper horizontal frame ele ments 35 and 36 in-Figure are of identical construction as the corresponding elements i3 and l.4;.in, Figure 1 and embody respectively sets of angular. disposedstrip bars 3'! and 3? and welding material 38 and 38' deposited at respective locations to unite mesh H] with said bars, as previously indicated, and further, the elements and 36. have also their respective convex or concave side presented towards body of mesh ii for the purpose, as previously stated. The extreme edge portions in the upright elements 3:2, arranged. as-shown in Figure 5, are inwardly presentedrelative to margin of frame 3i and, therefore, salient exposure of said edges is avoided which may be considered a contribution to a better appearance of entire structure in which such frame elements are incorporated. These elements, such arranged, are preferably intended to serve as freely exposed terminal edgings or posts, unattached to other webbed panel structures or walls of buildings, and in shown example of Figure 5, the framed mesh web structure may be used to advantage as a single unit, as for instance, in window guards, etc. In extended wall partition structures composed of sec tional framed units and including a freely exposed terminal, the framed mesh unit of Figure 5 may be employed in a modified form as the respective terminal section. In such cases, one upright element 32 may be substituted by one like l2 in Figure 1, with convex side turned towards body of mesh In, which will be more suitable for abutment with other units of like construction.

The Figures 6 and 7 show structures substantially of the type presented in Figures 1 and 3 but having the meshed material substituted by a sheet metal web 39. The features and advantages of framing a sheet metal web with described frame elements of concave-convex cross sectional contour remain the same as previously indicated. In Figure 6, the upright edging 4i and the lower and upper horizontal edgings 4i and 42 correspond to the respective elements [2, l3, l4 in Figure 1. The upright and the lower edgings 4D and 4| have their convex side turned towards the body of sheet 39 and embody described angular arrangement of strip bars, indicated by the reference character 43 in this instance, and edge portions of the sheet 3Q are likewise engaged between respective elongated edge portions of bars 4-3 where welding material 44 is deposited within the channel side of said elements to unite the contacting portions The upper: edging 4'2; with concavez side. presented? to? wards body of sheet Web-39. and downwardly in:- clined flanges as elementv l i in'FigureLisof like; construction and respectiveedges of .bars 43. are: welded. to. the: edge of sheet 39 at apex of: said-. edging as indicated at 44'. Inthe modifiediforma of Figure 7, the lower and upper horizontal. edge ings 45 and 45 include a strip bar 4'! and 41' re-.- spectively with flange portion laid in: parallel. relation to sheet web 39 and the flange of complemental strip bars 48 and 48' angular disposed thereto. The edges of sheet web 39 are also secured by welding to presented edges. of said: bars at shown locations as indicated at 49 and 39 respectively. Described structure may serve. a similar purpose as such of Figure 3. It should. be understood that the framed sheet metal structures of Figures 6- and 7, which embody the; downwardly directed flanges in. the horizontal frame elements as shown in combination withmeshed material, may alsoincorporate. various. applications of described upright frame elements, such as 12 in Figure 1 and 32in Figure 5 or: similar forms.

While I have shown and described preferred. constructions of the invention, this is by way of illustration only, audit should be understood that. referred frame structures may further include frame elements of a type other than shown combined with the frame elements of theinvention which may be also subject to changes asto size, proportions, location, their variousdisposition of. the sides thereof, etc.,,as deemed advisable and. according to the discretionv of the user. In this 1': respect, I consider as my-own all such modifications in structure as fairly fallwithin the scope of appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described having.

54*. a web body and a structural support therefor, said.

support including a combination of elongated support members having sides disposed substantially convergently towards the vertices of said members, said web having respective end portions sustained by said members and the body portion extended therefrom, each of said members having at least one of said sides disposed in substantially diagonal relation to the web and. the vertex located substantially in the plane. thereof, and said support including at. least two members of said defined construction, one having the convex face formed substantially by said convergent sides directed towards the body of the web and another having said convex face directed away therefrom.

2. A structural device having a web body and a structural support therefor, said support including an elongated lower and upper support member having sides disposed substantially convergently towards the vertices of said members, said web having respective end portions secured to said members and the body portion extended therefrom, each of said members having at least one of said sides disposed in substantially diagonal relation to the web and the vertex located substantially in the plane thereof, and each of said members having the convex face formed substantially by said convergent sides directed upwardly relative to the position of said structural device.

3. A device of the character described having a web body and a structural support therefor, said support including a combination of elongated support members having sides disposed substantially convergently towards each other with 7, at least one side in each member set in diagonal relation to said web, said web having respective end portions engaged between said sides at the vertices of said members and the body portion extended therefrom, and said support including at least two members of said defined construction one having the convex face formed substantially by said convergent sides directed towards the body of the web and another having said convex face directed away therefrom.

4. A structural member having a Web body and a frame support therefor, said support having a combination of frame members in which a lower and upper member complement spaced upright members, said lower and upper member each being concave-convex in transverse section with lateral sides thereof disposed in substantially diagonal relation to said web in a manner so as to be downwardly inclined from the vertices formed by said concavo-convexity and relative to the position of said structural member, and respective end portions of said web being engaged between said sides at the vertices of said lower and upper member and secured therebetween by welding respective parts to each other.

5. A structural member comprising a web body supported within a frame having a combination of frame members in which an upright member is of angular form in transverse section with lateral flanges disposed at an angle to each other,

said web having an end portion engaged between said flanges at the vertex of said member and the body portion extended therefrom, welding employed to unite said end with said member at contacting portions, and said member having at least one flange disposed at an angle to said web and further having the concave face disposed towards the body of said web, another member of like construction having its convex face disposed towards the body of said web.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which said member having said convex face directed away from the web is positioned upright in said device.

7. The structure of claim 1 in which one of said convergent sides in each of said members lies in a plane parallel to said web.

8. The structure of claim 1 in which at least one of said support members includes a multiplicity of spaced apertures at the vertex thereof, said web body being defined by a mesh web with pro- 8 jected end portions spaced from each other and with respective spaced end portions engaged within said apertures, and the support member with said apertures being disposed as a lower member in said structural support with said convex face directed towards said mesh web and upwardly relative to the position of said device.

9. A structural device comprising a web body and a frame support therefor and having elongated frame members being concavo-convex in transverse section, said web having respective end portions engaged within the vertex portions of said frame members formed by said concavo-convexity and the body portion extended therefrom so as to provide sections in each of said frame members at opposite sides of the plane of said weblying in lateral relation to each other, at least one of said sections in each of said frame members having the transverse extension disposed in substantially diagonal relation to said Web, and one of said frame members having the convex face directed towards the body of said Web and another having the concave face directed thereto.

10. The structure of claim 9 in which said end portions of the web are extended through said vertex portions to the concave and convex faces of said frame members respectively, welding material employed to secure said end portions to said frame members, and said welding material being located substantially at the faces of said frame members lying away from the body of the web.

11. The structure of claim 4 in which said 1 lateral sides in said lower and upper member are disposed respectively substantially in diagonal relation and in planes parallel to said web in a manner so as to be downwardly directed from said vertices and relative to the position of said structural member.

FREDERICK KAUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McClure July 20, 1926 slumber 

